set the democratic gubernatorial and senator ##ial primaries in november – a full year before the gubernatorial election and two years before the senator ##ial election . beck ##ham wanted the senate seat , and moving the primary up two years would allow him to secure his party ' s nomination while he was still governor . it also allowed him to use his influence as governor to sway the party ' s choice of his potential successor as governor . state auditor samuel wilbur ha ##ger was beck ##ham ' s choice for governor and easily won the early primary over challenger n . b . hays . former governor james b . mcc ##rea ##ry challenged beck ##ham for the senator ##ial nomination , but beck
set the democratic gubernatorial and senatorial primaries in november – a full year before the gubernatorial election and two years before the senatorial election. beckham wanted the senate seat, and moving the primary up two years would allow him to secure his party's nomination while he was still governor. it also allowed him to use his influence as governor to sway the party's choice of his potential successor as governor. state auditor samuel wilbur hager was beckham's choice for governor and easily won the early primary over challenger n. b. hays. former governor james b. mccreary challenged beckham for the senatorial nomination, but beck